Preview: Blue Jays at White Sox

June 04, 2012|Reuters

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Preview: Blue Jays at White Sox

The Chicago White Sox are the hottest team in baseball and look to extend their American League Central lead when they host the Toronto Blue Jays in Tuesday's opener of a three-game series. Chicago has won 10 of 11 games to take a 2 1/2-game lead over the Cleveland Indians and also has a six-game edge over the Detroit Tigers, the preseason division favorites. Toronto is three games behind first-place Tampa Bay in the AL East.

The Blue Jays are close to adding former All-Star Vladimir Guerrero to the mix at a time when Jose Bautista's bat is heating up. Guerrero is getting his timing down at Triple-A Las Vegas and Bautista has homered in back-to-back games to raise his total to 14. Chicago second baseman Gordon Beckham has a 10-game hitting streak and had three homers and eight RBIs as the White Sox won two of three from the Seattle Mariners. Chicago expects to have outfielder Alejandro De Aza back from an illness.

Romero is only 1-1 in five road starts as opposed to being 5-0 at home. He defeated the Baltimore Orioles in his last outing when he allowed four runs and six hits in six innings. Romero is 2-0 with a 3.54 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox.

Humber defeated Tampa Bay in his last outing for his first victory since tossing a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners on April 21. He held the Rays to two runs and five hits over seven innings. Humber is 0-1 with a 6.26 ERA in five home starts this season. He is 0-0 with a 3.24 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Blue Jays.

WALK-OFFS

1. Toronto cleanup hitter Edwin Encarnacion left Sunday's game against Boston after being hit by on his right hand by a pitch. X-rays were negative on Encarnacion, who leads the Blue Jays with 17 homers.

2. White Sox outfielder Alex Rios is 4-for-9 with a homer against Romero.

3. Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie was among the people evacuated from a Toronto shopping mall when a gunman opened fire Saturday night. One person was killed and at least six others were injured.